Lester Holt Emergency Ends As TV Anchor Heads Back To ‘Nightly News’: What’s Next For Brian Williams? [Video]

Faithfully fulfilling his role as Brian Williams’ temporary replacement on the Nightly News, Lester Holt announced that a family emergency forced him to find a substitute on March 2. To the rescue came Savannah Guthrie, who normally co-hosts the Today Show, reported Deadline.

Why the surge of interest in who is replacing Brian Williams? Some reports indicate that Savannah is being considered as Brian’s replacement. However, Lester’s supposedly temporary role while Brian is on suspension has been a surprise ratings success for NBC.

During Holt’s second week replacing Brian, ratings increased by more than half a million viewers, according to the Daily Mail.

That total came to 10.1 million viewers for Holt, who joined NBC News in 2000.

Popular Lester responded to concerned tweets from his fans on social media with the announcement that he plans to return to his news anchor chair today.

“@heidi_mcsista: @Nicoleedits Prayers for @LesterHoltNBC and family!” /Thanks! Happy to report all is good. Back in the chair tonight.” – @LesterHoltNBC

But given that Brian Williams is supposedly only temporarily suspended, is there a chance that he will return and boot out Lester Holt? The answer depends on a change of management currently being considered at NBC, according to the New York Daily News.

Andrew Lack, who used to the chief of NBC News, may return to displace Pat Fili-Krushel. However, Deborah Turness, the president of the news division, is expected to remain in that role.

Although no one at the network has rushed to defend Brian publicly, his daughter, Allison Williams, was vocal in championing her dad, as the Inquisitr reported.

“Obviously, [this situation has been] toughest on my dad, who bears the full burden of responsibility for it, but one thing the experience has not done is shake my trust and belief in him as a man,” declared Allison.

“He’s a really good man. He’s an honest man. He’s a truthful man. He has so much integrity. He cares so much about journalism. And yes, he’s a really good dad. I know you can trust him because, as any good daughter does, I’ve tested him on that.”

However, Allison suffered her own share of fallout, as claims that she benefited through her connection to her father in her new-college-graduate success in getting roles on Girls and as the lead in Peter Pan. Some on social media mocked her.

“NBC casts Allison Williams as Peter Pan. Maybe they can find a guest role for Brian?” – James Poniewozik

[Photo By Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images]